On Monday, July 31, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, using his automatic weapon, opened fire on a running Jaipur-Mumbai Central Express train in Maharashtra, India near Palghar railway station, which is situated around 100 kilometres away from Mumbai, the capital city of the state.
The shooting resulted in the death of four individuals, including an RPF assistant sub-inspector and three other passengers who happened to be Muslim men.
A video of the incident went viral in which the RPF personnel identified as Chetan Singh Chaudary can be heard praising PM Narendra Modi and Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath.
“Hindustan mei rahna hai, to Modi aur Yogi… Yahi do hai (If you want to live in Hindustan, then I say, there are two people – Modi and Yogi),” Singh says in the video.
The Muslim men who lost their lives in the incident have been identified as Abdul Kadir, Asgar Kai, and Mohammad Hussian. ASI Tika Ram Meena was also among the dead.
According to media reports, the shooting incident occurred following a heated discussion that turned into a communal dispute, leading to an argument.
At approximately 5 am, the perpetrator, Singh, opened fire, targeting assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Tikaram Meena within coach B-5. Subsequently, he shot and killed Abdul Kadir and another man in the pantry car before proceeding to coach S-6, where he fatally shot Asgar Kai, a bangle seller from Madhubani, Bihar.
Addressing the media, Inspector General of RPF (Western Railway) Praveen Sinha said, “He had a short fuse, he was quite hot-headed. There was no altercation. He just lost his temper and shot his senior, then fired at whoever he saw.”
“Constable Chetan Singh fired on Party Incharge ASI Tikaram Meena from his ARM Rifle and one unknown Passenger at Coach No B 5, and then fired on two other unknown Passenger in Coach No S 6 and Pantry car attached to the train. At about 6:18, the train reached Borivali and four dead bodies were retrieved by GRP and RPF officers and staff. The passengers are yet to be identified. Constable Chetan has been detained, and his ARM recovered,” the RPF said in an official statement.
